shrink-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: make or become smaller or less

Examples:
His savings quickly shrank.
Your sweater will shrink if you wash it at too high a temperature.
The company's profits have shrunk from 5.5 million to 1.25 million.
The productivity improvements have shrunk our costs by 25 percent.

Sense Number 2: draw back or recoil, be unwilling or reluctant

Commentary: Includes: SHRINK BACK, SHRINK FROM

Examples:
He shrank back in revulsion.
She does not shrink from tackling tough problems.
He shrank at the thought of making such a sacrifice.
The child shrank behind the sofa as his father shouted at him.
When she was younger she would shrink away from me whenever I spoke to her.